Show Notes

[On Collaboration)]: “I think the best way, is the way I worked on these pieces with Emma (Di Marco – Saxophonist), where she said …“Look I’m really excited about this idea! I’d like to try out this technique I’ve been playing around with”… and I said …“Well what if we try this?”… And everything kind of went from there. I think that’s kind of the best way to do things.”

I talked to Paul Ballam-Cross on a beautiful August day in the western suburbs of Brisbane. Paul, a seasoned broadcaster himself, was an eloquent, quick-silver interview subject, and I felt we easily fell into a rhythm. Paul, as he’ll describe in the podcast, came to composition a bit later, and I found him refreshing and honest – and willing to openly share his honest perspective on the art of composition – even when he finds it difficult.

A particular highlight for me was when he picked up the guitar to prove a point in one of his examples. It was just such a generous, genuine part of our discussion that I completely forgot we were being recorded.

Music in this Episode

Anagrammata
Composed by Paul Ballam-Cross
Performed by the Monash University Flute Ensemble (conductor) Peter Sheridan,

Two Portraits of One Subject
Composed by Paul Ballam-Cross
Performed by Paul Ballam-Cross